Key points
- The minister says UNN never gave him a certificate. He claims school staff blocked the process.
- UNN now says he did not meet degree rules. A 2023 letter was later withdrawn.
- NYSC discharge paper is also in dispute. Review calls mount in Abuja.
Nigeria’s Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Uche Nnaji, faces new scrutiny today. He admits he never got a degree certificate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
The claim sits in court filings seen by reporters. He says he entered UNN in 1981 to study Microbiology and Biochemistry. He also says he could not collect a certificate since the school “refused to issue” one.
UNN’s latest position and timeline shifts
UNN has now distanced itself from the certificate in his file. In a letter dated 2 October 2025, Vice-Chancellor Prof Simon Ortuanya wrote that records show he was once a student. But there is no proof he graduated or met all degree needs.
That stance reverses an earlier note from 2023. Then, the Registrar said Nnaji finished in July 1985. The school withdrew that line in May 2025. The switch has raised clear doubts about the minister’s academic history.
The National Youth Service Corps is also dragged in. NYSC has reportedly denied issuing the discharge paper the minister presents. That adds a second hole to his record trail.
Meanwhile, trust in due process is again in the news cycle. Recent debates over public verification echo across sectors, from politics to pop culture. See the Ossai Ovie Success rigging claim for a sense of that wider mood.
Pressure grows for a screening review
With questions piling up, Abuja voices now seek a probe. They want to know how the minister was cleared at screening. They also want a full check on the papers he filed.
Activists urge the Presidency to act fast and clear doubts. Legal groups say any inquiry should be open and swift. They add that all letters, logs, and sign-offs must be reviewed.
As of press time, Nnaji has not issued a fresh public reply. His camp has also not shared new proof from UNN or NYSC. The story will keep moving as more files surface.
For more recent headlines on public debates and identity checks, see our BBNaija 10 finale voting results explainer. It shows how official tallies and public trust collide online
